How to Cook the Bitterness Out of Collard Greens

By Vera Leigh

If you do not live in the southern United States, then you may never have tasted collard greens. Collard greens are a naturally hearty and slightly tough, leafy vegetable often paired with fried chicken, honey-glazed ham or roasted pork. Eaten alone, they can impart a bitter taste. To cut the bitterness of these greens, you will need to soften it by cooking it several hours and adding a few common ingredients you can find in your kitchen cupboard or refrigerator.

Things You'll Need

Soup pot

Water

1/2 pound ham hocks

Salt

Vinegar

Lemon juice

Bring a soup pot filled with water and 1/2 pound of ham hocks to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for about 1 hour.

Place washed greens into the soup pot and cook for an additional hour.

Taste the greens. If they are too bitter for your taste, add a teaspoon or two of salt or lemon juice. Mix the greens, ham hocks and water. Continue adding a teaspoon of salt or lemon juice and tasting until the bitterness is cut.

Continue cooking until the greens are soft. Total cooking time should be between 1 and 2 hours.